Parent Support & Education
Clear Minds, Healthy Lives: Choose Vape Free
Parent Information: How You Can Help
If you are concerned about your child’s vaping and suspect they may have a nicotine addiction, it’s important to have a conversation with your teen about their vaping – and it should be a conversation, not a lecture. Here are some questions you might want to ask your teen about their vaping:
- Do you continue to vape even though you want to stop or think it’s hurting you in some way?
- Do you feel anxious or irritable when you want to use your vape but can’t?
- Do thoughts about vaping interrupt you when you are focused on other activities?
- Do you vape at school? How often?
- Have you ever tried to stop vaping but couldn’t?
- Do you feel like you have lost control over your vaping?
- Would you like my help to quit vaping?
The truth is, you can’t force your teen to quit vaping, but your influence can make a difference. The Support to Quit Vaping Guide below provides some tips that you and your teen may find helpful.
And when your teen does decide to quit, you’ll need to provide support as they may deal with nicotine withdrawal symptoms, including: Irritability, restlessness, headaches, sweating, sadness, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, insomnia, hunger, and cravings. You can help your teen manage these symptoms by encouraging him or her to drink plenty of water, get enough sleep, and eat healthy snacks. You can also discuss having a plan for managing cravings and dealing with situations that might trigger a desire to vape. Withdrawal symptoms can make it difficult to quit, but as your teen stays off nicotine, the symptoms will fade but they will need your support and health to do it.
What advice? Try your GP, headspace (1800 650 890), NSW Parent Line 1300 1300 52 or NSW Quitline 13 7848.